Duplex electromagnetic separator device



' Oct. 7, 1941. A. L. J. QUENEAU 2,258,194

DUPLEX ELECTROMAGNETIC SEPARATOR DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. AuaaJw/vlfon/ c/74/V QUE/V5411 ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1941. v I A, J QUENEAU 2,258,194

Y DUPLEX ELECTROMAGNETIC SEPARATOR DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1937 4 sheets-sheet? II III I Immmmmiiimiiiiiiiiiii l 'iiiie J i o o i "iii'ii I 1 Z l i q as \I i 0 Q 7 E o 1 i g i 1 l 4 ii 2 ii 2 1 "W INVENTOR. (/GUJTl/V Z50 dEA/v QUE/V540.

ATTORNEKS 1941- A. L. J. OUENEAU 2,258,194

DUPLEX ELECTROMAGNETIC SEPARATOR DEVICE Filed Sept. v22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hi7 v- 52 INVENTOR. Aua'uamvlsozvciw/v Guava-nu.

ATTORNEYS Oct 7, 1941. A. L. J. QUENEAU 3 1 DUPLEX ELECTROMAGNETIC SEPARATOH DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR. fiucug ywv 50 LX514 QUE/VEAM ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1941 DUPLEX ELECTROMAGNETIC SEPARATOR DEVICE Augustin Leon Jean Queneau, Bernardsville, N. J.

Application September 22, 1937, Serial No. 165,202

8 Claims.

This invention relates to electromagnetic sep- 1 One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a magnetic separator device incorporating an improvement of the principles of the said prior patent. Another object of this invention is to increase the capacity of the device of the said patent. Still another object is to provide a duplex magnetic type of magnetic separator device based on the principles of the said prior invention which is adapted to more economically treat ores, residues and the like of relatively low commercial value. Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordance with the above objects I have devised the duplex separator device of the present invention of which the following description together with the accompanying drawings is a full and complete disclosure. Before further disclosure reference should be made to the accompanying drawings wherein-- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view in section of the device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view partly in section of the same; Fig. 3 is a view taken along plane 33 of, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view illustrating one feature of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same; Fig. 6 is an opposite perspective view of the same; and Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate optional modifications of another feature of the invention.

The present invention incorporates the essential features of flowing a suspension of materials under hydrostatic pressure in a container through an electromagnetic field projected through the suspension transversely to the direction of flow of the' suspension between rotatable magnetic pole ends disposed adjacent opposite side walls of the container and in progressively moving the magnetically attracted particles along the inner face of thecontainer side walls, by a rotation of the said rotatable pole ends, through the magnetic field and into channels of flow separate from the channel of flow of the main body of the suspension, which features were described and' claimed in the above identified patent.

The invention of this said Patent No. 2,088,364 has been subject to improvement in other ways as indicated by my applications for Letters Patent Serial No. 120,987, filed January 16, 1937; Serial No. 133,242, filed March 26, 1937; Serial No. 140,- 930, iiled May 5, 1937. The inventions of these said applications have in part or in whole also been utilized. in the present invention, together with new features as will be hereinafter described.

I have found that in the treatment of ores, residues and the like in the general type of device described and claimed by the prior patent identilled particularly in the treatment of those ores of relatively low magnetic susceptibilities and of relatively small magnetic susceptibility differences between the desired and undesired constituents and also those in which the desired magnetic constituent is present in relatively low proportions, it is necessary to separate the desired magnetic constituent in a succession of cuts or steps, making the first separation with the lowest operable magnetic field strength and succeeding separations at progressively higher field strengths until the maximum field strength permissible for any given constituent is applied, or until an economically practical total removal of the constituent has been obtained. This necessitates the repeated passage of the suspension through the device of the said patent even though at each pass through the device the magnetically at-.

tracted particles are separated in two portions, one at each pole.

In the treatment of ores in which the desired constituent is of relatively low market value, such as low grade iron ores, it is desirable to reduce the costs incident to the recovery or segregation of the iron constituent from the gangue to the lowest practical figure to enable the recovered iron constituent to compete economically with natural ores of higher iron content.

I have, accordingly, devised the duplex device indicated in the drawings whereby in one passage through the electromagnetic separator device I may obtain twice the amount of concentrate without substantial increase in the cost of operation, construction costs, etc. heretofore experienced with the single device of the said patent. In order to accomplish this result certain modifications are necessary in the device of the, said prior patent which briefly stated are (1) means to horizontally sustain two pairs of electromagnetic poles in horizontal spaced relation with the tified by letter P, P.

spaced ends of each pole adjacent opposite side walls of the container; (2) means to uniformly energize the two pairs of electromagnetic poles; (3) the provision of means to. progressively remove the concentrate separated by the two upper 'magnetic poles; (4) the provision of hydraulic barrier means at the entrance to each concenrectangular cross-section to a substantially T- shaped cross-section as indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and6, wherein the pole piece generally is iden- Adjacent the top and bottom of the T portion of eachipole (P-P') I provide parallel spaced arcuately recessed extensions ll' adapted to receive rotatable pole ends 22. As indicated in Fig. 1, I provide container 3 with appropriately located arcuate recesses in opposite side walls to receive the rotatable pole ends 22 leaving interiorly th container 3 be tween the inner curved surfaces a desired space between opposite spaced pole ends. A central partition 4 is provided in container .3 to effectively divide the container into two symmetrical halves, the structure to the right of partition 4 and the pole pieces and other means associated therewith being substantially identical to the structure to the left of the partition 4 and being essentially complementary thereto. Accordingly,

in the following description the structure to the left of partition 4 will be referred to specifically,

it being understood that the same description applies to the opposite or right half of the device.

Pole piece P is provided with a main magnetizing coil C encircling the rectangular shank thereof and two auxiliary magnetizing coils c'--c" located respectively on stubs 5-4 disposed on the back of the T portion of the pole P in a position adapted to bring the centers of coils c'c" in horizontal alignment with the horizontal axis of rotors 2-2. Theouter ends of poles P-P are linked together by rectangular shaped yoke Y to form a closed magnetic path horizontally about the spaced inner end of the poles P-P. Means, not shown, are provided to energize the coils C, c and 0", either in series or in parallel, to obtain the desired uniform magnetizing field between the two sets of oppositely located pole ends 22', as one skilled in the art will recognize.

Container 3 is provided with aligned arcuate recesses in opposite side walls adapted to receive rotating pole ends 2-2 and 2'2' as above noted and preferably in the manner and by the structure substantially as indicated in the drawings, with the opposite side walls above and below the said rotating pole ends extending vertically above and below the said ends at approximately the vertical axial center of the said pol ends,

This particular feature may be widely varied without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. The space gap between the pole ends 22 or 2',2' also may be varied widely without departure from the present invention but by way of example, I prefer to maintain a gap between opposite inner, curved surfaces of the opposite side walls to not over two inches at the closest point. Partition 4 is relatively thin, being not over 5% inch thick, thereby leaving a passageway on each side of the partition of about inch Wide.

The depth of the container between opposite end walls should approximate the length of rotor 2-2 and may be varied widely depending upon the capacity desired in the device. I prefer-to employ a rotor (22') of about thirty inches long, and to employ a corresponding depth of container 3, thereby giving a space gap of about compared to the intervening areas 1, which func-. -,tion during rotation of the pole ends to mag- -netically urge the magnetically attracted particles along the inner curved face of the container wall in the direction of suspension flow through the magnetic field and into channels of flow (indicated as separating chambers 89) separate from the channel of flow Ill-H (on opposite sides of partition 4) of the main body of the suspension, substantially as indicated by solid and dotted arrows respectively (Fig. 1). The rate of rotation of the rotors 2-2 may be widely varied without departure from the present invention but preferably should approximate the rate of fiow of the suspension.

To prevent the entrance of non-magnetic particles in upper separating chamber 8, I provide a hydraulic barrier means consisting of 2. current or flow of water into and out of chamber 8 in adirection countercurrent to the flow of suspension into the chamber through the space gap between the top of partition l2 and the inner surface of the curvedside wall of container 3 as indicated by arrows, which flow of water is at a pressure sufliciently high to prevent the suspension entering chamber 8 but insufllcient to keep out the magnetic particles as they are magnetically urged through the gap. This pressure'of water is obtained from reservoir l3 provided with a constant level overflow l4, a'supply feed l5, and a delivery pipe l6 provided with a control valve II regulating the flow of water under the head of pressure in reservoir l3 to twin conduits l8-l8' opening into opposite ends small cross-sectional area and in order to avoid restricting the surface area for separating magnetic particles in the lower magnetic field are preferably spaced inwardly from the inner curved surface of the bottom recess of'container 3 a distance permitting free access of the suspension flowing through the lower space gap to this inner in conduits 20 and the magnetic pull of rotating rotors 2'-2'. In Figs. 7 and 8 I have indicated two optional modifications of conduits 20 as 20' and 20" respectively.

The lower rotors 2-2 deliver additional concentrates into lower chamber 9 in tlf'e same manner as hereinabove described with respect to the separation obtained in the upper magnetic field and the two concentrates thus obtained pass by gravity into collecting chamber 2| (2i). In, the

arrangement shown, collecting chamber 2| is in.

a closed hydraulic circuit with lower separating chamber 9 and the concentrates collecting, in

chamber 2| create, by displacement, an additional hydrostatic pressure in separating chamber 3 to that introduced through conduits 20. The com bined hydrostatic pressures operate to create the desired hydrostatic barrier in the space gapbe-l tween the upper edge of partition 22; and the inner curved surface of the bottom recess incontainer 3, preventing thereby the entry of non 5 magnetic particles of the suspension intoseparating chamber 9.

It is desirable, however, to provide means to continuously remove the accumulating concentrates from collecting chamber bin 2| so that continuous operation of the separator device may be obtained. I accomplish this by means of motor driven rotary valving cylinder 23 provided with a plurality of chambers 24 which are arranged to be sequentially positioned uponrotation beneath an opening in the bottomof chamber 2! and to be fllledby gravity feed with concentrates fromthe chamber. By means of motor driven pump means fl I may regulate the flow of water from reservoir 20 through conduit 21 into chamber 9 to exactlythat necessary to replace the volume of material removed by chambers 24, thereby maintaining the hydraulic balance in the closed circuit of collecting chamber 2| and separating chamber 9. If necessary,-I may providesuch an -excess of volume of water to supplement that already present as may be necessary to complete the hydraulic barrier at the entrance to lower separating chamber 8.

As indicated in the drawings, the main flow choking of the valved outlet 30. The desired hydrostatic head of pressure in container 3 is maintained with any given sized opening in valve 30 by adjusting the rate of feed of suspension into container 3 through feed pipe 29 to that which will maintain a slight overflow through overflow conduit 32.

The particular structural features of the rotors 2-2, the manner and means for rotatably mounting the rotors 2-2 and the manner and means for driving the same are substantially the same as I have heretofore described and claimed in my prior applications above identified, and as'these features specifically form no part of the present invention will not be described in detail although indicated in the drawings.

Whereas, I have indicated in the above description and drawings a pair of horizontally disposed electromagnetic fields, it is within the scope of the present invention to employ three or more and the term duplex as herein employed is to be construed to mean two or more pairs of poles or two or more parallel spaced electromagnetic fields. i

From the above description of the present invention andfrom the drawings illustrating the same, it is apparent that many modifications and departures may be made therein without essentially departing from the nature and scope thereof as may be included within the following claims.

What I claim is:

1.,An electromagnetic separator device 'comprising a vertically sustained container, means to flow a suspension of materials under hydrostatic pressure downwardly through said container, means to project at least two vertically spaced electromagnetic fields through said container between opposite side walls of the container, vertically spaced slot openings in each,

side wall of said container, said openings being disposed in a position relative to the electromagnetic fields to lie in the lower portion of each said field, upper and lower separating chambers exteriorly of said container and communicating with said slot openings, each said chamber being in substantially closed hydraulic cir cuit with the container, means to magnetically move the magnetically attracted particles in each said field downwardly along the inner surface of the container and through the said slot openings into said separating chambers, means to progressively discharge the magnetic material collecting in the upper separating chambers into the lower separating chambers without disturbing the closed hydraulic relationship of the chambers and container and means to remove the magnetic material from the lower separating chambers without disturbing the hydraulic relationship of the lower chambers and container.

2. The combination of claim 1, including means to supply to each said separating chamber fluid under sufficient pressure to induce a flow of fluid from the said chambers into said container through said slot openingscounter-current to the magnetic particles entering the said chambers thereby to effectively prevent the passage of suspension through the slot openings into said chambers.

3. The combination of claim 1, said last mentioned means including means to replace an equivalent volume of fluid in the said separating chambers simultaneously with the removal of said magnetic material from the chamber, thereby to preserve the hydraulic equilibrium between the chambers and the container.

4. An electromagnetic separator device comprising in combination a vertically sustained container substantially rectangular in cross-section, each opposite side wall of the container being provided with two vertically spaced and horizontally opposite arcuate recesses extending inwardly a distance leaving a restricted rectangular shaped passageway therebetween, horizontally disposed electromagnetic pole pieces located adjacent each said recess, each said pole piece being provided with a rotatable cylindrical end piece having; a diameter adapted to be A received in said recesses, the peripheral surface of each said end pieces, being provided with a plurality of spaced and isolated areas comprised of material of relatively high magnetic flux concentration as compared to tIfemateria-L of the intervening areas thereof, means to rotate each of said end pieces towards its horizontally-opposite end piece and in a direction adapted to move the peripheral surface in the direction of suspensionfiow, means to energize said poles with a magnetizing current of desired intensity, a partition member located within the container below each said arcuate recess, the upper edge of the partition being spaced from the under curved surface of the recess forming a space gap therebetween, and the bottom and side edges of the partition joining the side and end walls of the said container to form therewith a sepa-' particles from said separating chambers into said collecting chamber, and means to discharge the collecting particles from said collecting chamber without substantial disturbance to the hydraulic balance in said collecting and separating chambers.

5. An electromagnetic separator device having a plurality of horizontally spaced magnetic separating zones each operative to remove a portion of the magnetic constituents of a material passing through said zones, said device comprising a vertically sustained elongated container substantially rectangular in cross-section each opposite side wall of the container being provided with a plurality of vertically spaced inwardly arcuate and substantially identical recesses, the recesses in one side wall being disposed opposite the recesses in the other side wall leaving a restricted rectangular shaped passageway therebetween, means to flow a suspension of'materials downwardly through the container, means to maintain a substantially constant fluid level of said suspension in the container, means to magnetically attract the magnetic particles in said suspension to the inner curved surface of each said recess, means to progressively advance the magnetically attracted particlesalong the inner surface of each said recess in the direction of suspension flow to the under curved surface of the recess, a partition member located within said container immediately under each said recess the upper edge of the partition being spaced from the inner curved surface of the recess to form a space gap therebetween through which the said magnetic particles may be passed and the bottom and side edges forming with the container walls a separating chamber substantially closed to the flow of suspension there through, means to feed a pressure of water into each said separating chamber to provide a flow of water from the said settling chamber through the said space gap into said container counter-\ current to. the direction of flow of the suspension into said separating chamber, means to feed the magnetic particles by gravity from each said separating chamber into a fluid filled collecting chamber, and means to remove the magnetic particles from said collecting chamber without substantial disturbance to the said hydraulic equilibrium in the said settling and collecting chambers.

6. In the combination of claim 5, said means to magnetically attract and said means to advance the magnetically attracted particles comprising two electromagnetic poles T-shaped in cross-section and having a height at the T section at least equal to the overall spacing between said arcuate recesses anda depth approximating that of the horizontal depth of the said side walls of the container, the top surface of the T section bBlng provided with a plurality of arcuate recesses substantially identical to those in the side walls of the container, the rear surface of the T section being provided with a plurality of extensions adapted to receive an electromagnetic coil, said extensions lying in about the same plane as said recesses, a cylindrical end piece for each said pole recess having a diameter adapting it to be rotatably seated within said pole recess, means to horizontally sustain said pole pieces and each said end piece in a position adapting the end pieces to rotatably seat within the side wall recesses and the pole recesses, an electromagnetic energizing coil about the shank portion of each said pole piece, an electromagnetic coil about each said extension, a horizontally sustained yoke member rectangular in shape around the said pole pieces and electrically connected to the outer ends to form a closed path for magnetic flux around the pole pieces, means to energize each said magnetic coil to induce between each opposite rotatable pole end a substantially uniform and symmetrical magnetic field of desired intensity, and means to rotate each said cylindrical pole ends the direction of rotation of each opposite pole. end being. towards the container and vertically downward, the speed of rotation being substantially uniform with each pair of opposite rotating ends,

7. In the combination of claim 5, said means to remove the collected particles from the collecting chamber without disturbance to the-hydraulic balance in the collecting chamber comprising a gravity feed discharge opening in the bottom of said chamber, a motor driven rotary valving cylinder provided with a plurality of chambers each adapted to sequentially close said opening upon rotation of the said valving cylinder, a source of water, a motor driven pump to draw water from said source, means to deliver the water drawn from the source by the said pump to said chamber, and means to synchronize the operation of said pump with the operation of said valving cylinder to deliver to said chamber a substantially equivalent volume of water to that withdrawn by said valving cylinder.

8. In the combination of claim 5, said means to feed the collected magnetic particles from each said separating chamber into a collecting chamber comprising a plurality of conduits each of relatively small cross-sectional area, and each opening at one end at spaced points along the bottom of the chamber into the bottom of each of the upperschambers and at the lower end opening similarly into the top of the lower chambers, each said conduits being comprised of non-magnetic material and extending through the space gap between said arcuate recesses in said container side walls but in spaced relation to the inner curved surface of said recesses, the bottom of the lower said separating chambers opening into said collecting chamber to permit the gravity feed of magnetic particles thereinto,

and to permit the water displaced by the ac- I the recess adjacent thereto.

AUGUSTIN LEON JEAN QUENEAU. 

